Anthony Scotto III Continues His Family’s Heritage at Scotto Cellars

Anthony Scotto III, energetic CEO of Scotto Cellars, is a member of a fifth generation of California vintners located in Walnut Creek.   Recently he told me during a phone conversation that as a child, his family “never saw wine as glamorous. It was simply a piece of the puzzle when it came to dinner.”  This large Italian family considered wine a humble addition to the meals served each Sunday when everyone gathered.  Scotto’s great grandfather, Dominic, arrived in the United States from Ischia, Italy in 1903 and settled in Brooklyn.  Having made wine in Italy, he taught his sons to make their own which they sold from horse drawn wagons on the streets of New York.  Interestingly, Anthony  Sr. and brother Sal introduced their first brand, Villa Armando, in 1948 and it continues to be sold today.  In 1963, Anthony Sr. moved from Brooklyn to Livermore Valley in California with his own family during harvest and continued the tradition of winemaking.

Fast forward to 2015…the puzzle has many more pieces than it did when Scotto was a child. With three wineries in Lodi, another in Amador County, and one small winery leased in Napa Valley, business is booming and the Scotto family wants to produce wines for consumers who “want to take a chance and are not dictated by brand loyalty.”  Anthony knows that the younger generation is experimenting with different varietals, brands, and price points and he wants Scotto Cellars to deliver.  With distribution in all fifty states and ten foreign countries, wines from Scotto Cellars are sold at Whole Foods and other outlets where shoppers appreciate an eclectic selection.  Within the portfolio of brands, you may recognize the labels of SeraFina Cellars (the only winery with a tasting room), Villa Armando, Brownstone, Heavyweight, Howling Moon, 99 Vines and many more.

I had a chance to taste wines sent to me as samples.  The three selections from the Rare Wines brand will set you back a mere $10 or so and are blends from multi-vintages so that “the winemaker is able to be more creative.”  I felt that all three wines were a good value for the price. The 50 Harvests 2012 Napa Valley Meritage was a stunner.

The Rare Rosé showed intense aromas and tastes of strawberries and juicy raspberries from a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Merlot, and Symphony (a cross between Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris developed for growing in hot Central Coast vineyards).  Grapes were sourced from vineyards in Lake County, El Dorado Hills, and the cooler areas of the Central Valley. Light and refreshing, the tart citrus finish was lovely. With aromas of green citrus, stone fruit, honeysuckle and hint of minerality the Rare White was a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat, and Symphony from grapes grown in Mendocino County, Lake County, Paso Robles, and the Central Valley.  I noted a fruit forward palate profile with citrus, ripe stone fruit, and a bit of spice on the finish.  The Rare Red is a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Verdot, Petite Syrah, and Merlot from Lodi, Paso Robles, and the Central Valley.  On the nose, ripe red fruits and a tingly spice led to more of the same on the palate.  More of that zesty spice lingered on  the finish and the Rare Red was just as good sipping on the deck as it was paired with dinner.

The 50 Harvests 2012 Napa Valley Meritage, commemorating fifty consecutive harvests for the Scotto family, is a wine I absolutely loved.  Created at the family’s Napa Valley winery, Steele Cellars, the 2012 is its second release.  From vineyards in the Oak Knoll District on the Silverado Trail, 50 Harvests is a rich Bordeaux blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Petite Verdot, and 10% Malbec.  Deep garnet in the glass, I found aromas of overripe raspberries, plums, rhubarb, vanilla and hints of cinnamon and nutmeg.  Dry with medium acidity and a well integrated tannic structure, notes of lush red fruits, white pepper, and graphite created a balanced wine with complexity and intensity that were memorable.  The cost of the 50 Harvests is a well priced $50.

Anthony Scotto III and his four brothers and sisters have found their own niche in the wine business. His father “made sure that we all worked together as children and adults” and no negativity then or now is allowed.  Scotto remarked that he is “very protective of family togetherness” and is “proud that Scotto Cellars is a true family owned and run operation.”  While talking to him, it became obvious that family, heritage, and making good wine are of the utmost importance.  Scotto wants to continue to build the business for the next generation and shared that “this is more than a job. I’m part of a group that cares. The human spirit must infiltrate everything.”

Like Dominic Scotto who emigrated to America and started the puzzle of Scotto Cellars, this fifth generation with Anthony Scotto III at the helm is continuing to piece it together with an eye on the wine lover and the other mindful to the family legacy.  I don’t think this puzzle will be done for quite awhile.

Cheers~ Cindy